Though the details of the inquiry remain secret, the timing has prompted speculation it might involve stories published last month in The Ledger describing the ­Police Department's refusal to provide requested documents involving a juvenile charged in connection with an attempted murder.

By GARY WHITETHE LEDGER

LAKELAND ­| As the Lakeland Police Department awaits the possible release of a grand jury report, some insiders say an atmosphere of uncertainty pervades the agency."I think most people don't really understand what the thing is," said one LPD officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. "Everybody knows the department is being investigated for something. So there's a lot of stress and tension about it."The State Attorney's Office confirmed that it was investigating a complaint involving the Lakeland Police Department, but would provide no further details.Prosecutors would not say whether this complaint was the focus of a grand jury presentment issued Feb. 14. Sources who did not wish to be identified, however, have confirmed that the presentment does focus on the LPD complaint.No criminal charges were filed as a result of the investigation.The grand jury's summary, known as a presentment, is automatically sealed for 15 days to give those named a chance to appeal any or all parts. After any challenges are made, the chief judge of the 10th Judicial Circuit Court will decide whether to seal the presentment permanently or open it for public review, either in its original form or an edited version.Though the details of the inquiry remain secret, the timing has prompted speculation it might involve stories published last month in The Ledger describing the ­Police Department's refusal to provide requested documents involving a juvenile charged in connection with an attempted murder.Five reporters and one editor from The Ledger were called to testify under oath before the grand jury, as were other members of LPD and other agencies.State Attorney's Office spokesman Brian Haas previously confirmed that the office was investigating a complaint regarding LPD, but he would not say whether the grand jury was investigating the same complaint.Chief Lisa Womack has denied breaking Florida's public records law but did tell a Ledger reporter in January that the agency sometimes engages in a "cat-and-mouse" game over the release of records.Womack, 47, was hired in December 2010 to succeed Roger Boatner as Lakeland police chief and began work in March 2011. She had previously been assistant chief of the Arlington Police Department in Texas.Most of the LPD employees who spoke for this article insisted on anonymity for fear of repercussions. One employee acknowledged that the department sometimes withholds records the law requires the agency to release."I have no doubt they withheld something they should have released," the source said. "They've done it in the past. They'll probably do it again."Another employee said the grand jury investigation has been a source of much conversation inside the agency, though the department's leadership has not spoken about it."They are confused," the source said of officers. "They have a lot of questions. Nobody knows what is going on."Officers are familiar with newspaper reports about the conflict over providing public records, but the source said, "It seems a lot more serious than that."The source added: "I've had people ask me, ‘What the hell is going on on the third floor?' " (where the administrative offices are located).A second LPD employee, who also requested anonymity, said reports of the grand jury investigation have created tension inside the department. The source also pointed to the recent appointment of the agency's former public information officer, Ann Dinges, to the newly created position of public safety communication specialist as a source of discontent.The source said Dinges' new position wasn't advertised within the department so that others might apply. The employee said some officers with 15 years of experience are making less than Dinges, whose hourly pay equates to roughly $60,000 a year.LPD's staff only learned of Dinges' new role through an email announcement earlier this month, the employee said."It's another example of the lack of communication between the officers and the third floor," the source said.That employee said few inside LPD are willing to question Womack's actions because of a job opening for the assistant chief of police, a position formerly held by Charles Thompson."No one wants to create waves because they are all waiting on promotions," the source said. "Everyone is on pins and needles until this all gets sorted out."Some sources inside LPD offer praise for Womack. Nick Marolda, an officer and the president of the union that represents the force's rank and file, said he hasn't detected any recent morale problems."The mood is fine," said Marolda, president of the West Central Florida Police Benevolent Association. "I think it's just a big wait-and-see right now to see if anything is going to be released or if it's going to remain sealed. It's hard for the guys and gals to make an opinion because they really don't know what the presentment entails. It's just a bunch of speculation right now."He said reports about the grand jury scrutiny have not disrupted the work of officers."It's business as usual right now," Marolda said. "There's a little anticipation on if and when something comes out, and from that point on I guess you'll get more of a reaction."Marolda said Womack has followed through on many promised improvements, including new vehicles, new guns and new uniforms. He noted that Womack has the department on track to regain the national accreditation it forfeited under previous chief Boatner.That status could be jeopardized, though, if assessors find that LPD is not in compliance with Florida's public records law when they visit in April, a spokesman for the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies recently told The Ledger.Marolda said more than 90 percent of the LPD staff below the leadership level belongs to the union."I can tell you this unequivocally: Myself and the PBA is 100 percent behind the chief," Marolda said. "The last two-plus years she has done nothing but positives for us and made tons of changes in a positive way. ... We were in a pretty bad spot, and we have done a complete 180. ... The union works extremely well with her. We are completely behind her on this effort and what's going on."Another member of the department who asked to remain unnamed also spoke positively of Womack's leadership."I think, personally, the chief has done good things for the department," the source said. "I sincerely hope she comes out of this OK and the department is better for it."Still another employee, again requesting anonymity, said coverage of the grand jury inquiry has had no obvious effect on most of LPD's staff."I don't think most people are even concerned about it," the employee said. "It only affects a few people. ... I don't think it's affected morale. Police departments are notoriously low in morale most of the time for various reasons. There's always some type of turmoil going on, but the grand jury investigation is probably the least concern for most of the people."That employee described Womack as well liked in the department. Former LPD spokesman Jack Gillen said he doubts the reporting on the grand jury investigation has had any impact on officers."I wouldn't think it would have any effect on the way they do their jobs," said Gillen, who retired before Womack's hiring. "These police officers put themselves in harm's way every day, no matter what is in the paper, no matter what is on television."Sources of internal conflict are common in law enforcement agencies, said Tod Burke, a professor of criminal justice at Radford University in Radford, Va., and a former Maryland police officer. Burke said it's not uncommon for an agency to face an internal investigation, though he said a grand jury inquiry involving a police department is unusual."Many times it (a controversy) is minor and will resolve itself and it doesn't really go public," Burke said. "When it does go public, it does present additional stressors to the agency and to the community. What we're talking about is trust — do we still have the trust for our law enforcement? — and that trust comes from transparency and honesty."Burke stressed that he wasn't familiar with any details of the Lakeland Police Department but spoke generally about law enforcement agencies."If you give the perception that you're hiding something, then you have a loss of trust both internally and externally," he said. "As long as there's a perception — you and I both know perception becomes reality in many people's minds, and that's why you have to be super careful in what you're doing."Chief Womack sent a written response Friday to The Ledger:"I believe the morale within the Lakeland Police Department is excellent. Over the past two years we have accomplished great things within the Department and through strong community partnerships. The energy, dedication, and pride throughout the Department is apparent. The hard work of Team LPD has produced positive results including a reduction in violent crime throughout the City and progress toward our CALEA re-accreditation. I am proud of all of our people and what they accomplished and look forward to great things to come.".[ Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. ]